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Keiki Caucus & Childhood Obesity Task Force 2004
Meeting Notes: December 1, 2004
The Childhood Obesity Task Force meeting was convened by Rep. Dennis Arakaki at Noon in room 325 at the Capitol. Members from previous meetings were present. We heard a presentation by Nancy Piianaia on the Slow Food (as opposed to Fast Food) program in Hawaii. The purpose of the program is to involve schools and community in the process of growing nutritious foods on the school grounds, harvesting, preparing and eating them in a dining-friendly environment. There is a prepared curriculum which goes with the project. Cultural as well as scientific aspects are included. Schools on the Big Island have been active and now schools on Oahu are starting up. The Slow Food movement is nation wide and international. Berkeley, CA is a center and awash in tofu, lettuce, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Not a cow in sight. The projects have been very successful where schools and communities have taken them on. Children are attracted to healthy foods which they have helped create. There is more about the program on the website: www.edibleschoolyard.org
Following the presentation, there was discussion of the initiatives which have been proposed by the Task Force to date. KMCWC had prepared a list of options for our review. This is an ongoing process and will require several more meetings to finalize. KMCWC is going to form a smaller committee to bring together a shorter list for us to look at.
During the discussion we got a reality-check presentation from the president of the association of manufacturers of food preparation equipment. He pointed out that people go to the drive-through because it saves time, the food is filling and it is cheap. We also have all our ethnic preferences to deal with. Parents are so stressed out they can't deal with regular meal-together times let alone all the other quality-time issues which a family must cope with. This is true, but as I listened to the people around me talk I got the impression that this group of people was adapting their family lifestyle to the values we have been discussing.
The Keiki Caucus Meeting was convened by Sen. Chun-Oakland at 2:00 p.m. in the same meeting room. Some people left and others from previous Keiki Caucus meetings arrived. This meeting began the process of reviewing drafts of bills and resolutions which were drafted based on the priority issues identified at the Keiki Caucus Summit. Here are some of the bills and resolutions of interest:
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Resolution. Requesting the development of a statewide strategic plan to promote obesity prevention and healthy lifestyles |
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Bill. Establishing quality early childhood education and care services for pre-kindergarten children. With reference to this bill, I asked if services for special needs children are to be included. Liz Chun, director of Good Beginnings Alliance, will form a committee to look into this to insure that it is so and at the level of services received zero to three. Pediatricians will be represented on this committee. |
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Bill. Establishing the graduated drivers licensing process |
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Resolution. Requesting the DOE to incorporate physical education, physical fitness, and a lifetime commitment to a healthy lifestyle into public education curriculum from kindergarten through high school |
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Bill. Making an appropriation for school repair and maintenance, specifically bathrooms and drinking fountains |
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Bill. Appropriating funds for non school-hour programs for children or youth enrolled in school |
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Resolution. Urging employers to implement flexible benefit plans and other family-friendly policies for private sector employees |
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Bill. Increasing the minimum wage amount and providing for automatic annual adjustment for cost-of-living increases |
Different members of the Keiki Caucus were assigned to bills and resolutions for further review and development.
The next meetings:
*Childhood Obesity Task Force 2004 - December 16th, noon to 2:00 p.m.,
Room 325 at the Capitol
*Keiki Caucus - December 16th, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Room 325 at the Capitol. |
